Paul Trollope has admitted he is concerned at Cardiff City’s poor start to the season which he concedes has put him under pressure after just seven matches.

The Bluebirds’ 3-0 defeat at Preston on Tuesday has left them just one place above the Championship relegation zone after suffering their worst start to a season for 12 years.

Trollope did not hold back in his assessment of his players after their third successive defeat and questioned their commitment after they conceded three goals following the three Norwich put past them three days earlier.

He said: “There are basic requirements in football that are needed in terms of desire, hunger and to show a drive with and without the ball – a bit of heart. We didn’t show that.

“Sometimes you can accept it if you don’t function with the ball or get your attacking play going in certain spells or even games, but you have to have the basics in place and we didn’t have that.

“We didn’t have that in terms of defensive responsibility or defensive desire and for those two things to not be there in the first period was very disappointing.

“Apologies to the travelling supporters who came a long way and saw a performance that was unacceptable.”

Cardiff now play Leeds United at home on Saturday, a team now two points above them following their victory over Blackburn Rovers.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do before Saturday,” admitted Trollope.

“We’re of course concerned. We didn’t deserve to be going home with anything tonight.

“There’s pressure on every manager every game and on every coach. Pressure is always there and everyone knows the situation and I believe in how I work, and I believe in the group of players.

“We need to respond and be a lot better – to dust ourselves down, look at what went wrong and how we can improve, but more importantly show a mental strength and a resilience. We have hit adversity but we will work hard to produce a performance worthy of a win.”